speaker john boehner to come back to the negotiating table to avoid the "fiscal cliff." >> as of today, i am still ready and willing to get a comprehensive package done. >> reporter: the house did not even vote on speaker john boehner's proposed plan b because it didn't win enough republican support. >> good morning, everyone. >> reporter: the speaker says the ball is in the president's court. >> unless the president and congress take action, tax rates will go up on every american taxpayer and devastating the defense cuts will go into effect in 10 days. >> reporter: his bill would have extended tax rates for households making a million dollars a year. the president put the threshold at $400,000. the white house and democrats here on capitol hill are frustrated that speaker boehner spent the last several days pushing plan b instead of focusing on a bigger compromise. >> nobody can get 100% of what they want and this is not simply a contest between parties in terms of who looks good and who doesn't. >> reporter: disagreements over how much to raise taxes and cut spending continue to separat

leaders nancy pelosi, john boehner, mitch mcconnell and harry reid to reach agreements before tax hikes and spending cuts kick in january 1. >> we have been asking the president and the democrats to work with us on a bipartisan agreement for months. >> i don't know time wise how it can happen now. >> reporter: the senate majority leader wants house republicans to return from their vacations to approve a democratic senate plan that extends tax cuts for families making less than $250,000 a year. >> that's the only option that is viable escape route. >> reporter: but republican leaders say it's up to democrats who control the senate and white house to avert the "fiscal cliff." >> republicans aren't about to write a blank check for anything senate democrats put forward just because we find ourselves at the edge of the cliff. >> reporter: house members will return to capitol hill on sunday and could begin voting that night. they would have about 24 hours to approve a deal. adding to the urgency, treasury secretary timothy geithner warned congress that the nation's debt limit will be reached

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